There are 3 worlds.

The first world resides above the clear blue sky and beyond the twinkling stars. It is said to be a place of peace and happiness. This world is called Heaven.

The second world exists just below Heaven. It is filled with fruitful trees and beautiful flowers. There is only one sky. The color of this sky varies with its mood. Day brings the warm sun and night brings the bright moon along with the glittering stars. However, this world is unlike the first. Here, families are separated, and peace is broken by the daily wars. This world is called Earth.

The third world is below Earth. Souls of evil reside in this world. They cry for mercy; everything that existed in their lives is no more here. This world is called the Underworld.

You know of these worlds, but you know not of mine.

I understand many things, but there is one I do not understand. My name. I never understood why I was given this name. Lucas. Light is what this name means. Why would the Shadow King have a name that means light? Through the centuries, I have always pondered the reason but found none of value. My world is dark, so why should my name be of light?

*

Upon Lucas’s command, his servants immediately bathed and dressed him. With a single breath, a small black jewel appeared across a chain on Lucas’s forehead. It laid below his gray-black hair.

As the servants were draping the cloak around Lucas’s shoulders, one of his most loyal servants, Tomi, approached him.

“My king,” said Tomi with a bow.

“Yes?” answered Lucas.

“Here is today’s list of shadows,” Tomi offered the list to Lucas.

“Thank you, Tomi. You are dismissed,” Lucas said taking the list from Tomi.

“Yes, my king,” Tomi bowed and exited his master’s room.

Lucas’s eyes scanned through the list, he sighed. “Another day, another group of shadows to collect,” he thought to himself.

With his list memorized, Lucas began his work. The first stop was in Scotland, a woman had fallen gravely ill and passed away a few days ago. The next stop was Tokyo.  A man and his child died in a car accident the week before. With each stop he made, Lucas sighed for each day was no different than the last.

He was lead to a funeral home, where a woman’s service was still in progress. The paper sign hanging on the door read, “Service of Emelia Rogers.”

“It seems they have yet to bury her,” Lucas thought, leaning against the wall of the funeral home. “This won’t take too long.”

As Lucas predicted, the service ended not long after he arrived. Four men carried the casket into the van, while the others entered into their cars ready to drive to the cemetery. Lucas melted his body into the van's shadow as it was ready to leave. When they reached the cemetery, Lucas watched from afar as they placed the woman’s casket in plot three of the second row in the six-foot grave. A man in black robes said the final rights and the men and women present began to shed tears. Lucas, however, found it tedious.

The family set colorful flowers on the plain, black coffin before staring blankly at the grave. One by one they all vacated the cemetery; leaving with only their memories of the deceased. “Finally,” Lucas moaned walking over to the grave.

He grabbed her shadow's hand.  She turned, "Who are you?"

He smiled, “I am Lucas, the Shadow King. The soul you are attached to has moved on. Therefore, I will take you to my world so that you may move on as well.”

“Will I ever see her again?” the shadow asked sadly.

“Yes, you will,” he said with a smile, “It is as certain as the sunrise.” She smiled a bit and gradually accepted to follow him to her new home.

After he put her to rest, the final stop was in Waynesboro, Maryland. A mother had died while giving birth to her baby. The child is now two weeks old. Lucas yawned as he watched the people place her coffin in the grave. The scene remained the same wherever he went.

By the time Lucas had finished, the sun had barely risen, which meant winter was around the corner. The busiest time of year for the Shadow King. He then landed in a small neighborhood. Lucas changed into his human form upon landing; boredom was starting to get to him. The street lights shined on every corner, but one light shined the brightest.

Lucas looked at the brightness, then heard a loud honk. Before he could change into his shadow form, he felt a tug on his arm. He grunted as his body slammed on the cold sidewalk. The honk faded into the distance.

“Are you insane?” a voice shouted.

Lucas looked toward the voice and saw a girl on her knees panting for air. Her jet-black hair brushed against her skin and her dark brown eyes stared at him with worry.